A police spokesman said: “We are currently in negotiations with the English Defence League who have requested to hold a demonstration in Preston in February.

Let’s talk about it – talk about the reality of far right groups in Lancashire and about a serious strategy to deal with the far right element

Mohammed Ali Amla

“No firm decisions have been made at this stage and we are in the early stages of working closely with the organisers and with our partners and the community to ensure that any event passes off peacefully.”

Mohammed Ali Amla, founder of Christian Muslim Encounters and Muslims Against Daesh urged people not to stage counter demonstrations and said Preston was not a radicalised area.

He said: “This is the second far right demonstration in Preston in the last six months after the North West Infidels demonstrated in October.

“Let’s talk about it – talk about the reality of far right groups in Lancashire and about a serious strategy to deal with the far right element.

“It is an absolutely farcical claim, Preston has a multi-cultural, cohesive society,” he said. “There is a football stadium and a shopping centre in the middle of Deepdale. Of course it is not a no-go area.

“The EDL will come, they will be ignored and people will get on with their lives.”

Preston North End host Sheffield Wednesday on the same date and Preston Council says it will work with the police if an event goes ahead.